365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 89

Little did I know that I was going to come home traumatized yesterday. Now, it may sound like I am exaggerating but remember this is from a born and raised Southern California girl. Wednesday evenings my son goes down to the church for a youth group bible study time. I have been staying in town after work to have dinner and than go to the library and study. So after being at the library for about an hour, I decided to head out early and go get some frozen yogurt but as I walked out the door of the library I was blown away by how much snow had fallen in the last hour. Everything was covered. It was a blizzard! I got 75% of my windows cleared off and started to head out, only to drive up on the sidewalk because I couldn’t see it. I managed to get out of the library parking lot but was now going into full on freaking out mode. I couldn’t see more than a few feet ahead of my car and everything was covered with fresh fallen snow making it very difficult to drive on the road and not the sidewalk. Well, frozen yogurt was definitely not on my mind anymore, it was frozen everything else. So, I began the trek towards the home where I would pick up my son. About half way there, he texts me to say they will drive him all the way home. Yeah! Now, I just have to make it home. I wasn’t sure about getting on the highway as I didn’t want to get stuck on it but decided to go for it. At this point, I had already prayed really hard for some relief to my anxiety. I was singing the music on the radio and slowly following behind a snow plow. But than the snow plow stops and cars are diverting around it. Great! Turns out there was a car stuck at an angle right in the middle of both lanes so we had to inch by between the car and the guard rail. Yipes, just glad it wasn’t my car. I get off at my exit and slide here and there in the turns but manage to keep going. I make it to the light to turn left and have to stop for the red light. As I am waiting, a car going the other direction on the green light didn’t make the left turn but ended up sliding into the embankment. Whoa! I made it all the way home and decided to try to get up my driveway but only made it half way when my car slid backwards at an angle so I stopped and left it there. My hubbie just laughed. Really?! I have been totally traumatized by this experience. I am not going to go to work today simply because I have to recover and the thought of driving out in that again is too much. I am so thankful to God for giving us the snow and keeping me and my son safe on our way home but really God, really! Next time, can you please make the snow come after I get home?

Psalm 143: 8 Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 335

There are days where your kids drive you crazy, exhaust you and frustrate the heck out-of-you but than there are the moments that are so precious, so cherished and I am so thankful to God for. One of those wonderful moments happened last evening. The weather had turned and when we left church it was raining but as we got closer to home, the rain turned to snow. Of course, it isn’t going to stick to the ground but the falling snowflakes got my daughter all in a tizzy. She was giggly with excitement about a hopeful snow day and when we got home and out of the car, she rushed out onto the driveway and put her face up to catch snowflakes on her tongue. So much joy surrounded that moment. It was awesome! In this world, life can take its toll on us and make us grumpy, moody, and negative but we have the hope of constant joy, love, peace and all the good things that the Lord will bring us in heaven. So, when I am feeling grumpy or frustrated with circumstances in life, I pray that I will be able to pause and remember this moment with my daughter and the hope that Jesus gives.

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 302

Today is the first official day of Fall. We all have our favorites and mine has always been the Fall. I think because it is more of a drastic change than the Spring is.  Spring doesn't seems to come all at once. First you see the daffodils, than the tulips than some trees start to bud and the grasses start to change from yellow to green. But the Fall is much more dramatic and sudden. That first colder weather pattern that moves through tells all the trees and grasses your time is about done. You wake up the next day and suddenly your whole world has changed. The temperature is a nice mild 50 degrees, the trees are changing colors and the mountain has its first bit of snow on it. I think we can feel that way everyday with Christ Jesus in our hearts. Everyday we are made new. We can ask the Lord for forgiveness for our sins of the previous day and be washed clean of them. Thank you Lord for this gift of a new day, a new beginning everyday. We so need it! If you are living in a place without hope, than its time to look to the one who gives us hope everyday like a mountain with fresh snow.

Ephesians 4:22-24 To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 131

Last night as I prayed with the family in Faith's room as is our custom, Faith interrupted saying can I say something. I had forgot she likes to say her little prayer, "I love you God, I love you Jesus, I love you Holy Spirit" "please keep us healthy and safe throughout the night". That is her normal prayer but she added in a very excited way. "and please, please let us have a snow day" and without any hesitation Tristan chimed in with agreement. You never know what you will get with weather here in the Spring so we wouldn't know until the morning. Well God answered their prayers and has given them a snow day. It's not a lot of snow out there but it could accumulate throughout the day so... It is just a joy to see the excitement a snow day brings. What I would give to be back in school and not working?! Well, I will take that joy of theirs and let it seep into my heart even though I have to battle the roads and head to work.
Psalm 4:7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 72

Snow is upon us in a big way. I find it funny how snow can be so good in ways like no school for the kids but so negative as in car accidents, shoveling, stressful driving conditions, etc. I have always said that a job and the money I would make in one day is not worth the effort and potential for disaster that driving on snowy roads with blizzard conditions would bring. So, it looks like it's a snow day for me, too. Since the stories of 911 of people that said they should have been in the twin towers but they weren't for various reasons like they missed the train or the alarm clock didn't go off; I have always felt that we are exactly where God wants us to be. So, if God wants me at home today staying safe than I will accept whatever may come from that and will pray that those out on the roads will be safe.
Psalm 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.